Motivation and Self Belief.
I apoligise for the lack of motivational blogs of late. I have simply been finding between work and gym and triathlons that I haven’t had the time or energy to type. But I have been thinking about this post all week and reading one of Veronique’s blogs gave me the enthusiasm to type it out.
You see earlier this week I was sent to Melbourne for a couple of days to do a short course on giving presentions, something that I have to do from time to time in my work. This course involved having to give a short talk on anything you like so I decided that the best thing I could crap on for 10 minutes about would be an unqualified talk on burning fat and building muscle.
Rest assured for any Nutritionist/Personal Trainer Nazi’s out there I did qualify my talk that I wasn’t qualified but that I simply wanted to point them in the right direction.
I thought I would probably bore them to death when I started talking about Squating and Deadlifting, Eating 6 times a day etc but instead they got excited, they wanted to know more, my alloted 10mins quickly disappeared but I couldn’t stop them asking questions. They were genuinely excited.
But then the excuses came: "I can be really good at going to the gym every day for a couple of weeks but then I just stop if I haven’t seen results" said one overweight girl.
"I am really good at eating during the day but when I get home I just open the fridge and eat eat eat" said another.
One by one the excuses came out, the self defeating excuses for why something cant be done or why they aren’t in shape. The sad thing was that they genuinely did want to get fit, they did want to lose fat they just couldn’t defeat the mindset that put them where they are.
I just smile and nod when people start talking like that because I realise that until they find that motivation within themselves to change then nothing I can do or say will enable them to see past the excuses.
So I decided to use this forum instead and hopefully here I can offend some people to start thinking about beating the excuses for themselves. Chances are that if you are on this site then you are already one step ahead of the people I spoke to and maybe this will be the blunt object that might get you over the line???
I don’t care if you tell me that you don’t have time to get to the gym! If you wanted this bad enough you would either make time or you would go and get some weights to use at home. I have no more time than you do. Just because Australia is in a different timezone to most of you doesn’t mean we have more hours in a day. I just make the sacrifice!
So you have a bad back/knees/shoulders whatever. I would probably say that the problem is in your heart more than anything else. Do you think that any soldier comes out of the military without something wrong with them. My problem is my knees. I can squat 190kgs and leg press over 800 pounds. If you have a weakness don’t you think you should do all you can to strengthen the muscles around the area??? Sure take it easy and build up slowly just don’t expect me to care when you whinge about not being able to do something.
So money is the issue? I am pretty sure Sweet Potato and Brown Rice cost less than french fries from fat Mac’s. Smarten up a little bit champ. If you wanted this you would find a way.
So for all of you that stopped reading because you got offended good riddance. For any of you left go and check out someone like VT dad that runs in sub zero temperatures. Or maybe someone like ShanBl who works hard and gets it done (her latest progress pics are proof!!!) In fact just go and randomly look at peoples profiles - you are guaranteed to find people who have exactly your excuse….
Only they just see it as a challenge that can be overcome.
March 28, 2009 at 3:22 am
What’s really fascinating to me is that we all seem to be thinking about similar issues right now. Seems we’ve all encountered the excuse makers.
I agree, I now have a smile, nod and move along policy if I see that the conversation is going to turn into an excuse fest.
It’s great if you have inspiration to write a blog every day but I prefer ones that have had some thought put into them. Thanks for the thought put into this one.
March 28, 2009 at 7:57 am
I challenge my clients to differentiate between excuses and reasons…and you are right, excuses are always the top of the list. Finding motivation and working on behavior changes are by far the most challenging, far harder than the nutrition or exercise regime! So, yes!! I agree with you…we all have the same 24 hours, making sacrifices, prioritizing priorities, putting self first, building commitment and finding that inner motivation to just step out of that comfort zone is when success has finally happened! Good blog, my friend!
March 28, 2009 at 8:31 am
Awesome blog brother… It almost makes me want to go back to the gym and do around round… (well, almost)… You are also correct in that dedication and determination have nothing to do with physical strength, it’s all about strength of your will power and of your heart. You have to want it enough to be willing to make the changes necessary to your schedule, your diet, or whatever else is standing in your way. Its just another obstacle to overcome… It can either be a challenge or an excuse, it’s up to each person to choose.
March 28, 2009 at 8:31 am
Awesome blog brother… It almost makes me want to go back to the gym and do another round… (well, almost)… You are also correct in that dedication and determination have nothing to do with physical strength, it’s all about strength of your will power and of your heart. You have to want it enough to be willing to make the changes necessary to your schedule, your diet, or whatever else is standing in your way. Its just another obstacle to overcome… It can either be a challenge or an excuse, it’s up to each person to choose.
March 28, 2009 at 8:41 pm
We are our own worse enemies, and what we need to do is break from our past. Excuses are easy, it is the work that is hard. It took courage to battle that mountain every Sunday, and race up it. Keep doing what you are doing, and enjoy your journey.
March 28, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Totally on the mark. I don’t know a soul who got out of the military without some injury or another, and the motto we learned in there of "suck it up, buttercup" generally does the trick for any person with any exuse!
March 29, 2009 at 12:35 am
You are the same age as me, and in Australia - did you ever watch Monkey - at the starting opening dialog the bloke says "Tathagata Buddha, the Father Buddha said ‘With our thoughts, we make the world’." So true…
March 30, 2009 at 10:34 am
good blog and loved reading about your triatholon…no more for the season..any advice on the swimming??
March 30, 2009 at 11:43 am
Such a good blog, and so many good comments. I’ve missed your words of wisdom my friend. Excellent take and right on the mark! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a handful of excuses at my fingertips just begging to be used- but I didn’t and I wouldn’t and I won’t. Thanks!
April 2, 2009 at 1:49 am
Right on, Stryka. Testify, my brother.
April 2, 2009 at 2:31 am
well said…the change happens in your mind before it happens in your body.
April 2, 2009 at 3:07 am
HEY STRYKA,
Great blog! You know, since I’ve been on this site I feel like I don’t have to be alone when it comes to sharing a passion for fitness. I’ve always been alone when it came to that because I could’nt seem to find people who were like minded even though I go to a gym full of people. Great blog once again-it has spurred me on to greater heights of commitment!
April 6, 2009 at 8:07 am
Bang on the money Stryka when I encounter people making excuses I just tell them that it’s OK because not all of us have the strength of character and will power to improve ourselves then I watch them slowly come to realise I’m talking about them. My patience for excuses ran out when my training partner quit on me so now I just tell it like it is
April 7, 2009 at 6:26 am
two thumbs up!!! Ice I say it is great for soreness!!! haha When people use the injury one I get aggitated.. ACL tear with complications for me so like I said ice is my friend AND my instructor has disk problems but he still is in the gym everyday swinging those kettlebells… or the aggitation could be because I’m drinking to much coffee!!!!